Systems and methods for controlling fluid-flow network transport infrastructure using connected field devices

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling a fluid-flow network transport infrastructure using distributed field devices. A control system applies a fluid-flow control policy to configure operational modes for a plurality of field devices. Each field device is configured to monitor fluid-flow parameters and report sensor data based on dynamic criteria. Upon receiving an alert from a field device, the system identifies other field devices that are hydrologically or hydraulically connected to the alerting device and satisfy a defined proximity threshold. Activation commands are issued to prompt additional data collection. The system manages fluid-flow control devices, such as valves or pumps, based at least in part on received sensor data, policy criteria, and environmental inputs. A simulated digital counterpart can model expected system behavior and inform adaptive policy adjustment. The disclosed architecture supports condition-responsive monitoring and decentralized control, reducing energy consumption and enhancing real-time responsiveness.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling a fluid-flow network transport infrastructure, the method comprising:
 establishing communication with a plurality of field devices, wherein each field device comprises a sensor configured to monitor a parameter related to fluid-flow within the fluid-flow network transport infrastructure;   obtaining environmental data associated with the fluid-flow network transport infrastructure;   applying a fluid-flow control policy to adjust an operational mode of the plurality of field devices to a designated mode based at least in part on the environmental data, wherein the fluid-flow control policy comprises operational criteria for the plurality of field devices and control criteria for managing one or more fluid-flow control devices based on modeled or real-time system conditions;   receiving an alert from a first field device of the plurality of field devices, wherein the alert indicates that sensor data from the first field device satisfies a threshold associated with the designated mode;   identifying, based on a network topology of the plurality of field devices, a set of field devices that are hydrologically or hydraulically connected to the first field device and satisfy a defined proximity threshold, wherein the defined proximity threshold is based at least in part on flow path characteristics, topological separation, or modeled influence zones;   transmitting an activation command to the set of field devices to cause the set of field devices to transmit respective sensor data; and   managing the one or more fluid-flow control devices according to the fluid-flow control policy based on the respective sensor data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the set of field devices comprises:
 evaluating the network topology using a representation of physical and logical infrastructure relationships to determine candidate field devices that are hydrologically or hydraulically connected to the first field device; and   selecting the set of field devices based at least in part on the defined proximity threshold specified in the fluid-flow control policy, wherein the defined proximity threshold reflects one or more of hydraulic travel time, number of downstream junctions, modeled flow propagation, or inferred influence regions from a simulated digital counterpart.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each field device of the plurality of field devices is configured to monitor the parameter at a first monitoring frequency and report the sensor data at a second reporting frequency that is lower than the first monitoring frequency, and wherein the first monitoring frequency is adjusted locally by the field device based on internal diagnostics, environmental conditions, or policy-defined operational criteria. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to receiving the alert and activating the set of field devices, determining that one or more additional field devices not included in the set also satisfy the defined proximity threshold based on updated sensor data or flow modeling; and   transmitting a secondary activation command to the one or more additional field devices to obtain further sensor data for use in managing the fluid-flow control devices.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid-flow control policy indicates an operational schedule for the plurality of field devices, wherein the operational schedule specifies a frequency at which the plurality of field devices transmit sensor data. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each field device of the plurality of field devices communicates sensor data at a frequency defined by the fluid-flow control policy and locally monitors the respective parameter at a more frequent frequency. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid-flow control policy includes a policy-driven decision-making module that determines the designated mode and the operational criteria for the plurality of field devices based on the environmental data, historical data, or system constraints. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid-flow control policy includes a machine learning algorithm that continuously adapts and optimizes the operational mode and control criteria for the plurality of field devices based on observed system behavior and performance. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 inputting the sensor data received from the plurality of field devices into a trained machine-learned model configured to analyze the sensor data and generate one or more policy adjustment outputs, wherein the policy adjustment outputs modify the fluid-flow control policy by adjusting at least one of the operational criteria for the plurality of field devices, threshold conditions for alert generation, control settings for fluid-flow control devices, or reporting frequency of the sensor data; and   applying the modified fluid-flow control policy to dynamically regulate fluid-flow within the fluid-flow network transport infrastructure based at least in part on the policy adjustment outputs.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each field device includes a lightweight predictive model selected from a statistical trend analyzer or an edge-deployed machine-learned model, the predictive model configured to forecast expected parameter values based on local sensor history and to generate alert indications independent of the simulated digital counterpart. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each field device is configured to transmit pre-aggregated sensor data comprising one or more of: a maximum value, a minimum value, an average, a statistical variance, or an event flag indicating a threshold condition during a defined aggregation interval. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alert from the first field device is generated based on a locally executed anomaly detection model configured to identify deviations from a forecasted parameter envelope. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proximity threshold is dynamically adjusted based at least in part on environmental data, hydraulic travel time estimates, or system condition forecasts generated by the simulated digital counterpart. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operational mode of the plurality of field devices is selected based at least in part on sensor data collected from the field devices, internal historical baselines, or system diagnostics, and without reliance on external meteorological forecasts. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a subset of the plurality of field devices are configured to operate as a decentralized edge analytics cluster, the edge analytics cluster being configured to exchange local sensor data and collaboratively initiate control actions or alert generation based at least in part on coordination with a localized instance of the control system associated with the cluster. 
     
     
         16 . A system for controlling a fluid-flow network transport infrastructure, the system comprising:
 a control system comprising one or more processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the control system to:   establish communication with a plurality of field devices, each field device comprising at least one sensor configured to monitor a parameter related to fluid-flow within the fluid-flow network transport infrastructure and a communication interface configured to transmit sensor data;   obtain environmental data associated with the fluid-flow network transport infrastructure;   apply a fluid-flow control policy to adjust an operational mode of the plurality of field devices to a designated mode based at least in part on the environmental data, wherein the fluid-flow control policy comprises operational criteria for the plurality of field devices and control criteria for managing one or more fluid-flow control devices based on modeled or real-time system conditions, wherein the one or more fluid-flow control devices are configured to regulate fluid-flow within the fluid-flow network transport infrastructure;   receive an alert from a first field device of the plurality of field devices, wherein the alert indicates that sensor data from the first field device satisfies a threshold associated with the designated mode;   identify, based on a network topology of the plurality of field devices, a set of field devices that are hydrologically or hydraulically connected to the first field device and satisfy a defined proximity threshold, wherein the defined proximity threshold is based at least in part on flow path characteristics, topological separation, or modeled influence zones;   transmit an activation command to the set of field devices to cause the set of field devices to transmit respective sensor data; and   manage the one or more fluid-flow control devices according to the fluid-flow control policy based on the respective sensor data.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to identify the set of field devices by evaluating the network topology using a representation of physical and logical infrastructure relationships to determine candidate field devices that are hydrologically or hydraulically connected to the first field device, and selecting the set of field devices based at least in part on the defined proximity threshold specified in the fluid-flow control policy, wherein the defined proximity threshold reflects one or more of hydraulic travel time, number of downstream junctions, modeled flow propagation, or inferred influence regions from a simulated digital counterpart. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each field device is further configured to monitor the parameter at a first monitoring frequency and report the sensor data at a second reporting frequency that is lower than the first monitoring frequency, and wherein the first monitoring frequency is locally adjusted by the field device based on internal diagnostics, environmental conditions, or policy-defined operational criteria. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to, in response to receiving the alert and activating the set of field devices, determine that one or more additional field devices not included in the set also satisfy the defined proximity threshold based on updated sensor data or flow modeling, and transmit a secondary activation command to the one or more additional field devices to obtain additional sensor data for use in managing the one or more fluid-flow control devices. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a control system, cause the control system to perform operations comprising:
 establishing communication with a plurality of field devices, wherein each field device comprises a sensor configured to monitor a parameter related to fluid-flow within the fluid-flow network transport infrastructure;   obtaining environmental data associated with the fluid-flow network transport infrastructure;   applying a fluid-flow control policy to adjust an operational mode of the plurality of field devices to a designated mode based at least in part on the environmental data, wherein the fluid-flow control policy comprises operational criteria for the plurality of field devices and control criteria for managing one or more fluid-flow control devices based on modeled or real-time system conditions;   receiving an alert from a first field device of the plurality of field devices, wherein the alert indicates that sensor data from the first field device satisfies a threshold associated with the designated mode;   identifying, based on a network topology of the plurality of field devices, a set of field devices that are hydrologically or hydraulically connected to the first field device and satisfy a defined proximity threshold, wherein the defined proximity threshold is based at least in part on flow path characteristics, topological separation, or modeled influence zones;   transmitting an activation command to the set of field devices to cause the set of field devices to transmit respective sensor data; and   managing the one or more fluid-flow control devices according to the fluid-flow control policy based on the respective sensor data.